"Mom! Is today Christmas?"
"Yes Henry, today is Christmas."
"What are we doing today?"
"I've got to clean up the house and do the laundry. Maybe later we can watch one of your DVDs together."
"But Mom! It's Christmas!"
"Yes, it's Christmas, but we don't celebrate Christmas. We're Buddhists."
"Well, what do Buddhists celebrate?"
"We celebrate every day that we're alive!"
"Ahh, Jeesh! Why can't we celebrate Christmas then? It's a day that we're alive!"
"Henry, why do you want to celebrate Christmas?"
"Because… everybody celebrates Christmas!"
"No, not everybody, Henry. Jews don't. Atheists don't. Hindu's don't. They celebrate other days."
"What days do Buddhists celebrate?"
"It depends. Different Buddhists celebrate different holidays on different days of the year. Buddhism doesn't really have it's own universal set of holidays."
"Then why can't we celebrate being Buddhists on Christmas?"
"It's just not our holiday Henry."
"Maybe when Dad gets home, he'll celebrate it with me. How come he's at work today anyway? It's Christmas."
"Nobody else wanted to work the shift so he volunteered. Don't forget, he's a Buddhist too!"
"Ahh Jeesh!"
"Henry, why is this upsetting you so much this year?"
"It's just that … all my friends have been talking about Christmas, how they're going to get this game and that game, how their family is coming in from out of town …and in school we've been making all these really cool decorations in art class … we sing all these really fun songs …."
"Ah Henry, I know it's tough for you. But today is another day, just like all the others. There's really no difference. Why don't you go downstairs and play with your trains?"
"Ahh, Jeesh!"
DING DONG
"Henry, can you get that?"
"Hello?"
"Hi Henry, my Mom and Dad thought you would like these cookies."
"Thanks Linda."
"Sure."
"Hey Linda… uh … aren't you guys Jewish?"
"Yea, we are."
"So, do you celebrate Christmas?"
"Well, we put lights on a bush inside. They're really pretty. But my mom and dad don't like it too much. They don't like Christmas."
"How come?"
"Don't know. But they really don't seem to like it."
"Yea, my parents are sort of the same way. Thanks for the cookies. See ya later."
"Mom! Linda brought us cookies!"
"How nice! I thought they were Jewish?"
"Yea, they are. They don't like Christmas too much. But they let Linda put lights on one of their bushes inside. Why can't we do that?"
"We don't celebrate Christmas, Henry. We're Buddhists."
"Oh, I forgot … "
"I'm bored. What can I do?"
"Go downstairs and play with your trains."
"Ahh, Jeesh."
DING DONG
"Can you get that Henry!"
"Hello?"
"Hey Henry, my Dad sent me up to give this to you. It's some stew he made. Thought you guys might like some."
"Wow, thanks Kurt!
"'Welcome."
"Hey, are you guys Christians?"
"No."
"Are you Jewish."
"No."
" ... then, what's your religion?"
"Don't have a religion. Mom and Dad tell me not to talk about it. Say if people know we're atheists it'll cause all sorts of problems."
"So, you guys don't believe in god?"
"Whatever."
"Well, thanks for the stew. I'll give it to my mom."
"See ya Henry."
"Hey mom! Kurt from down the street just brought us some stew his dad made! Sure is awfully nice considering their atheists!"
"What's that Henry?"
"They're atheists."
"No, I mean about the stew."
"Kurt's dad made it for us. Sure is awfully nice."
"It sure is. Let's put it in the fridge. We can have it when dad gets home."
"What can I do? I'm bored."
"You've got tons of things to do!"
"Oh yea, like what?"
"Go downstairs and play with your trains!"
"Good grief."
DING DONG
"Don't worry mom. I'll get it."
"Hello?"
"Good day Henry. Top of the world today, are we?"
"Hi Mr. Singh!"
"My dear wife and I have been up since dawn baking and baking. We love this time of year … so much good food to eat! Anyway, here's a little plate of tasty morsels for you and your family. Thought it might add a little spice to your day!"
"Gee, thanks Mr. Singh!"
"Think nothing of it."
"Say, aren't you and your wife Hindus?"
"No, not at all. We're Sikhs."
"Oh."
"Why do you ask dear boy?"
"It's just that …"
"Speak up! speak up!"
"Well, it's Christmas and we don't celebrate it because we're Buddhists and, well, it just doesn't seem fair."
"I see. I see."
"Do you celebrate Christmas?"
"Well of course!"
"You do? Are Sikhs Christians?"
"Ha! Ha! No my good boy. We are not Christians."
"Then how do you celebrate Christmas?"
"We bake! We bake! We love to bake and we figure, while everyone else is celebrating, why don't we celebrate too!"
"I see."
"Cheer up young lad! It's a grand day today!"
"Thanks for the treats Mr. Singh."
"Think nothing of it my boy!"
"Hey mom! Mr. Singh just brought us some treats!"
"How nice!"
"Hey mom, what are Sikhs?"
"I don't know Henry."
"The Singhs are Sikhs but they celebrate Christmas. Mr. Singh says it's got nothing to do with Christianity."
"Well, I guess he would know!"
"Ah, mom!"
"Everyone does things differently Henry."
"Yea, I know. But I'm still bored. There's nothing to do."
DING DONG
"Thanks for the bread Marsha. Aren't you guys Mormons?"
DING DONG
"Ms. Wellerby! Gee, thanks for all the candy! Isn't your family Baha'i?"
DING DONG
"Hey kid, is your mom or dad around to sign for this? We got some fresh fruit here all the way from Hawaii."
"Hey mom! Need you!"
"Henry, go put the fruit on the table in the kitchen with all the other food."
"Mom, this is so much food! How can we eat it all?"
"You're dad will have to help us."
"When's he coming home?"
"Should be here by 5:30."
"hmm ... hey mom, I'm going outside for a while. Be back soon."
 
. . .
 
"Hi honey, I'm home!"
"Hi dear. You know, Henry has been beside himself today about Christmas. He doesn't understand why we don't celebrate it. No answer seems to satisfy him."
"Well, maybe we should come up with a day of our own to have a special celebration. Hey, what's all the stuff on the table?"
"Oh! Our neighbors have been so nice! They've brought us all sorts of things!"
"But how can we possibly eat all that?"
"Hi dad."
"Hey Henry. Shall we eat!?"
"NO! ... I mean ... let's just wait a little bit, okay?"
"Sure son. I'll go change."
DING DONG
"Henry ... !"
"I know mom, I'll get it."
"Hi Mr. and Mrs. Singh. Come in!"
"Henry, who's that?"
"Nobody mom!"
DING DONG
"Hi Kurt! Mr. and Ms. Leblanc!"
"Marsha, come in! Hi Mr. Peterson!"
"Linda, Mr. and Mrs. Goldsmith! Come in!"
"Henry, who's that upstairs? Where's your dad?"
"Shhhhh ...."
Hi Mr. and Mrs. Wellerby, come in, but keep quiet …"
"Henry, what are you …"
 
. . .
 
"Surprise!"
"Huh ... Wha ...?"
"Mom, dad -- I knew we couldn't eat all this great food ourselves, so I invited everyone over!"
"While I'll be …"
 
. . .
 
"Thank you all so much for coming! This has been such a wonderful surprise. And the food! Delicious!"
 
"Thank you Mr. Peterson for explaining the Mormon tradition of sharing at Christmas time. Mr. Singh, it's so interesting to learn that Sikhs, like Buddhists, believe that all people are equal and that all religions are mankind's way of expressing the same thing. Mr. Goldsmith, we Buddhists, too, believe that Jesus was a great and wise man. And the idea that God is the unifying principle of the universe is something we Buddhists believe too. Mrs. Leblank, I now understand that atheism means that you don't believe in a personal god. We Buddhist's don't either... And Mr. and Mrs. Wellerby, well, I honestly had no idea that social consciousness and civility were so important in the Bahai faith. They are also very important to us Buddhists. We all have so much in common!"
"Next year, same time, same place?"
"How about our house next year?"
"Mr. Singh, that would be lovely!"
 
. . .
 
"Henry, Henry, Heny."
... yyyesss Dad ... ?"
"Mom and I have something for you …"
"A train engine! Wow! Thanks! I'll be downstairs if you need me!"

The End.